Ancient tombs from the time before the Elves

Across the cursed realm of Tenehu stand strange structures. They are said to be the remnants of burial places for the people who occupied these lands before the arrival of the Elf-kin. Little is known of these people, as little has been preserved.

The barbarous mountain folk claim to be their descendants, yet if this is true, they are tight-lipped about them. Not that many would be interested in learning more about them, in any case.

These tombs seem to be the only things that remain of this ignominious people’s legacy.

They consist of a chamber built of great stones where the bodies of the deceased were laid to rest, followed by a giant mound of earth built on top. In some cases, they have been excavated either by the elements themselves or by curious grave robbers hoping to find something of value inside.

Yet, there are probably innumerable others that have simply disappeared into the landscape, still untouched.

Though these burial sites are feared, as many see them as cursed and haunted places, there are those who have dared to enter them.

They say that they are greeted by murals of looming dark figures. The original occupants are long gone, but sometimes their objects remain.

There has not been any metals of worth found, but strange artifacts made from a green material have been discovered. This material seems to resemble the glass beads produced in the holy capital of Hurriaä, yet these differ not only in their green hue but also in that they seem to glow with an eerie green light. They are named whisperstones, as if one places them near the ear, they give off a faint hum. Most often, they are found in the form of beads and were probably used as jewelry. Due to their strange qualities, they are greatly sought after, but many dare not touch them, as they are believed to be cursed or occupied by evil spirits.

There is a tale of a rich merchant who became obsessed with these stones, having them sewn into his robes until they covered him from foot to neck. At first, he started to see strange visions, like many others who have possessed such stones. He was also plagued with intrusive nosebleeds, until eventually, his teeth fell out and his hair fell off. Though by then he had parted with the robe of beads, it was already too late, and the curse was unbreakable no matter what he paid the priest to help him. He would go on to die in great misery. Yet stories like these have not diminished the interest in these stones, and they are still sought after by both elven lords, mages, scholars, and even those who simply want to flaunt their wealth with such novelties.

There have also been reports of artifacts made of whisperstone that resemble knapped flint spear points, but these are of strange and disturbing shapes. They say that if one is wounded by such a weapon, the wound never fully heals, and in many cases, a cursed infection will claim the life of the victim.

Some merchants claim to have learned the origins of the whisperstone from conversations with the shaman kings of the mountain folk. They say that it is made of a material left behind after the great war of the precursors that led to their destruction. But such claims are doubtful.

In other tombs that do not contain any whisperstone, some have found knives made from crystals. These beautiful items are incredibly sharp, but they are as mysterious as they are rare.